GEORGE BUSH: NEGLECT AND OPPORTUNITY FOR LATIN AMERICA

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GEORGE BUSHNEGLECT AND OPPORTUNITY FOR LATIN
AMERICA
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READING

• Smith, Talons, chs. 10-12 and Conclusion

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ENDING THE DECADE OF UNCERTAINTY (1990-2001)

• Change of administration
• Change of party
• Change of context 9/11

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• PHASE 1 INITIAL ORIENTATIONS
• High level of presidential interest
• Relationship with Mexico
• (and Vicente Fox)
• Near-agreement on immigration reform
• Support for FTAA
• Composition of administrative team
• Isolation of Cuba

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• PHASE 2 9/11 AND THE AMERICAS
• Change in regional priorities
• Unilateralist impulses
• End of wholesale immigration reform
• Stamp-collecting
• PHASE 3 DUAL POLICY FRAMEWORKS
• FTAs with Chile, CAFTA, Peru, Colombia
• Steel tariffs and farm bill
• Dualism Domestic politics and war on terrorism

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UNLEASHING WARCHRONOLOGY

• September 11, 2001 attacks on U.S.
• September 20, 2001 Bush speech
• October 7, 2001 bombardments in Afghanistan
• March 2003 invasion of Iraq

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(No Transcript)
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WAR ON TERRORTHE RULES OF THE GAME

1. Nations can respond however they chooseincluding
   the use of indiscriminate force.
2. Preventive action is appropriate and acceptable.
3. There is no need to adhere to international
   treaties or conventions.
4. Alliances are formed around one central issuethe
   anti-terror campaign. Democracy and human rights
   are secondary issues.
5. Spectator nations must tread cautiously.

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U.S. LOSS OF SOFT POWER
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U.S. PRESTIGE IN LATIN AMERICA
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CHANGING VIEWS OF U.S. IN LATIN AMERICA

• Distaste for Abu Ghraib, Haditha, collateral
  damage and loss of life
• Solidarity with innocent civilians, hidden
  admiration for Osama bin Laden
• Rejection of American society, not just U.S.
  foreign policy
• Resentment of Bush unilateral approach
• Distrust of democratic crusade

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• DUAL POLICY FRAMEWORKS
• CRISIS MANAGEMENT (SIC)
• Argentina (December 2001)
• Venezuela (April 2002)
• Bolivia (October 2003)
• Haiti (February-March 2004)

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• THE PATTERN
• Insufficient attention
• Blame incumbents for their problems, especially
• if unpopular within Bush circles
• No preventive action
• Deny involvement
• Recognize successor
• Result What about democracy?

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MARCH 2007

• Week-long presidential trip
• Friendly locations Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia,
  Guatemala, Mexico
• Goals reassert American hegemony, proclaim
  concern for social justice, counter influence
  of opponents
• Sidebar ethanol agreement with Brazil
• General view too little, too late

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GWB and Latin America Historical and Comparative
Perspective _________Latin America as
Priority___________ ______ Low _______
_______ High _____ Operational Mode for
U.S. ____ Unilateral Ad hoc
Systematic imposition
intervention (Bush 2001-04)
(Reagan 1981-89) _______ _________________
__________________
Intermittent, Consistent, Multilateral
low-level high-level
diplomacy engagement (Clinton
1993-2000) (Kennedy 1961-63)
__________________________________________________
__________
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WHAT COULD LATIN AMERICA DO?